Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

Many nonprofits are now operating in a hybrid environment.

However, the skills needed to be successful in this new normal are different than being in-person.

I reflected on my past experiences and did some research to identify the top skills needed for this hybrid way of work.

And today, I'm sharing what I learned with all of you. 

Tune in to Learning For Good — Top Three Skills of the Hybrid Workforce.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Build relationships. Strong relationships are a must. The goals are:

• To empathize
• To influence your teams
• To act as an ally
• To encourage their well-being
• And so much more!

✔️Collaborate. Relationships are critical in hybrid collaboration because they require:

• Clear expectations
• Two-way communication
• Thoughtfully designed virtual co-working sessions

Without a strong foundation, these won’t be possible.

✔️Be fluent in digital tools. They’re everywhere. Whether it’s Slack, Zoom, or Calendly, these tools can help your staff build relationships and improve collaboration. Nobody needs to be an I.T. expert. Your team just has to be confident in using digital tools.

Watch: Three Must-Haves in Any Virtual Training

Subscribe to the channel: Skill Masters Market

Download my free Virtual Facilitation Formula: https://mailchi.mp/skillmastersmarket/three-tips-for-virtual-facilitation

Visit my website to see how we can work together.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/consulting-home

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Over the last two years, organizations have shifted things to a virtual or hybrid environment out of necessity, and now we have an opportunity to create the best version of that environment for our staff.

In today's episode, we’ll be learning three ways you can future-proof your nonprofit's leadership development training.

Tune in to Learning For Good — Future-Proof Your Nonprofit's Leadership Development Training.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Commit to developing your leaders. Our leaders are in a pivotal moment. They can continue to lead as they always have, even though the environment has completely shifted, or leaders can adapt the way they lead to work for a hybrid team.

✔️ Identify the skills needed. The top skills for the future include collaboration, communication, productivity, digital fluency, relationship-building, and empathy.

Also, consider:

• What skills does your organization need?
• What does your strategic plan say?
• What are your organization’s goals?
• What actions do you need to do to attain these skills?

✔️ Create training. Make one with the end in mind and one that everyone wants to attend.

How can you…

• make the experience engaging?
• pull them in rather than putting them to sleep? 
• allow them to draw their experiences and expertise to discover the skills they need?
• give them an opportunity to practice these skills?

This is where real transformation begins.

Watch: Three Must-Haves in Any Virtual Training

Subscribe to the channel: Skill Masters Market

Download my free Virtual Facilitation Formula: https://mailchi.mp/skillmastersmarket/three-tips-for-virtual-facilitation

Visit my website to see how we can work together.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/consulting-home

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

We have found ourselves in a virtual or hybrid environment, which means our meetings and training have also gone virtual in many cases.

How do we create a virtual experience that doesn’t put everyone to sleep?

In this episode, we hear from another virtual expert, Melissa Dinwiddie, to share her FUN method – so you can be sure you never have a boring virtual training again.

Tune in to Learning For Good — Do THIS and You Will Never Have a Boring Virtual Training Again.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Find the flow. Ditch the boring slides and lectures. Use an engaging 2-minute activity that involves emotions. And it doesn’t have to be related to your theme. Just something to set the mood for the rest of the virtual training session!

✔️Unlock the meaning. Gather your trainees for a debrief discussion. This is where your group will connect the activity to their daily lives, the theme, or the topic. Lessons stick harder when trainees spot them for themselves!

✔️Name the change. Or… “Now what?” At the end of the session, each trainee identifies their biggest takeaway or insight.  They’ll think of how to implement it between now and the next meeting. Melissa Dinwiddie suggests having shorter and fewer sessions in a week to give trainees time to practice their learnings.

Watch: One Simple but Effective Virtual Learning Activity

Subscribe to the channel: Skill Masters Market

Download my free Virtual Facilitation Formula: https://mailchi.mp/skillmastersmarket/three-tips-for-virtual-facilitation

Visit my website to see how we can work together.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/consulting-home

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Now that you’ve figured out how to create a relevant and meaningful virtual training, it's time to think about tactics.

That's where today's episode comes in. We're going to talk about this one simple but effective tactic you can use in your virtual training – WHEN to use it, HOW to use it, and when NOT to use it.

Tune in to Learning For Good — One Simple But Effective Virtual Learning Activity.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Virtual breakouts are effective when used correctly. Use them only when: 

• Learners have relevant experiences to share with each other.
• You want them to practice a skill.
• They will benefit from giving each other feedback.

✔️Virtual breakouts are easy to do. Go over the following steps:

• Create the discussion question(s) or activity that supports your objectives.
• Break the participants into small groups, 3-5 people is best.
• Provide ALL the information prior to breaking them out. 

✔️Virtual breakouts shouldn’t be used ALL the time. It may not be the best choice if you would need a subject matter expert to explain more technical knowledge or a facilitator to guide more difficult conversations.

Watch: Three Must-Haves in Any Virtual Training

Subscribe to the channel: Skill Masters Market

Download my free Virtual Facilitation Formula: https://mailchi.mp/skillmastersmarket/three-tips-for-virtual-facilitation

Visit my website to see how we can work together.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/consulting-home

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Over the last two years, organizations have been using virtual training platforms more and more.

But what they've found is that virtual training is different from in-person training.

In today's episode, we will learn three important things you must have in any virtual training.

Tune in to Learning For Good — Three Must-Haves in Any Virtual Training.

What You Will Discover: 

#1 - Be intentional. Have a purpose with what you create and how you create it to keep the training relevant and meaningful to your staff. Consider:

• The organization’s needs - What do you want to accomplish through the virtual training? How does that support your organization? 
• The audience’s needs - What do they already know how to do? What skills might be lacking? What motivates them to do these things? 
• Imagine how you can use the virtual classroom to help them practice the skills they need.

#2 - Build trust. Your staff will be more engaged in your virtual training if they believe you want the best for them. How?

• Set expectations.
• Explain the benefits of the training on their career or position.
• Facilitate relationship-building among participants.
• Listen to your staff. 

#3 - Do the unexpected. Don’t just be a talking head presenting information on a screen. People remember what is unique, uncommon, and outside the norm.

To make your virtual training more interesting:

• Use an improv activity. 
• Try out a Kahoot! game. 
• Turn videos off for a change. 

Watch: How to Build Trust Among Your NonProfit’s Hybrid Workforce

Subscribe to the channel: Skill Masters Market

Download my free Virtual Facilitation Formula: https://mailchi.mp/skillmastersmarket/three-tips-for-virtual-facilitation

Visit my website to see how we can work together.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.c

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Many nonprofits have spent the last two years in a hybrid model with some staff in-person and some virtual.

It’s time to be intentional about our new hybrid workforce, and building trust is foundational to a great hybrid culture.

In today's episode, we will learn three ways you can build trust among your nonprofit's hybrid workforce AND what nonprofit L&D leaders can do to create this environment for staff.

Tune in to Learning For Good — How to Build Trust among Your Nonprofits Hybrid Workforce.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Listen actively. People want to feel heard, and in a hybrid environment, leaders have to intentionally carve out time to listen to their teams because those spontaneous, unplanned hallway conversations don’t happen.

✔️Act transparently. Many people feel uncertain and uncomfortable after the many layoffs and changes that occurred during the pandemic and the Great Resignation. Sharing what information you have as you have it and are able to share it will help staff feel more at ease.

✔️Communicate consistently. Studies have shown that people need to hear a message 7x before they remember it. Even when you feel like you’ve communicated enough, communicate some more.

Subscribe to the channel Skill Masters Market

Visit my website to see how we can work together to develop the skills your people need so you can scale your mission and impact, even in a virtual world.

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/consulting-home

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

After 10 years in marketing communications supporting social justice organizations, Kay Meredith’s role at the University of Illinois pivoted her into the world of DEI training.

“I fell in love with helping employees feel confident and competent in their work,” she says.

In this episode, Kay Meredith shares her experiences and advice in getting your DEI training started within your organization.

Tune in to Learning For Good — What One Nonprofit Did to Kickstart Their DEI Training Initiative with Kay Meredith.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Set your goals and objectives. This can be done through market research with early childhood professionals and other activities to gather feedback and information.

✔️Decide what you’re offering. Go through the following steps:

• Revise the current plan.
• Create a new one based on recommendations.
• Deliver experiences from a facilitative lens.

Also, consider the following factors:

• How does DEI shape your work?
• How can you help impact the people you serve?

✔️ Conduct training from a long-term perspective. Facilitators play a critical role. Not just within the confines of the training, but after it as well. Support them by:

• Providing certifications.
• Offering more development opportunities.
• Doing check-ins.

✔️ Stay aligned with what’s happening in the organization. Evaluations are a great tool to deeply understand current problems and concerns. You’d want your material to be relevant and applicable.

✔️ Initiate transformative discussions. Making people feel valued and respected is often based on inclusive language. Ensure that you revise inclusive language through every part of your organization. Build it into your brand guidelines, human resources, membership, publications, emails, social media posts, and website.

✔️ Determine your success. There are two aspects to look at.

First, look at your internal work and spot:

• Strong collaboration in the creation
• New method of delivery
• Observable behaviors

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Diversity training has become a priority for many nonprofits.

Are you planning to implement it for your nonprofit organization?

It may sound overwhelming at first. Diversity and inclusion can be very sensitive topics for most people.

But don’t worry. There are ways to facilitate diversity training in a way where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Tune in to learn more 🎬 watch the full episode of Learning For Good — Three Instructional  Design Principles for Your Virtual Diversity Training.

What You Will Discover: 

Principle 1: Set Your Objectives. 

• What do you want to accomplish? 
• What does it look like to accomplish that? 
• How will you know when you’re successful? 

Use your objectives to guide all the conversations, activities, and evaluations you create for the training.

Principle 2: Create Connection. Virtual diversity training requires your staff and volunteers to be vulnerable, and vulnerability isn’t always comfortable or easy. That’s why it’s important to create connections among the participants.

Principle 3: Lean in. While you may want to start the training with “easy” conversations to build relationships, establish trust, and create that connection, you don’t want to shy away from the reason your participants are attending the training. Creating a more diverse workforce or a greater sense of belonging or more equitable practices within your organization isn’t easy. Staff and volunteers will need to be encouraged to lean into the hard conversations too.

Principle 3 depends on principles 1 and 2 being done well. If you ask people to lean in but have no real objective, they may feel confused or disillusioned. If you ask people to lean in but have not created connection, they may feel hesitant or frustrated. We need all three principles to be successful in our virtual diversity training - set your objectives, create connection, and lean in. 

For more videos just like this, head on over to YouTube and subscribe for updates!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyjlJEjfgGf4dJqJgpm7Wlw

Help Your Staff Feel Like They Really Belong:

https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/dei.

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Please note my dog makes a guest appearance in the beginning My #1 fan! You can watch this episode on YouTube too - https://youtu.be/kSELSCXjnqY.

So many nonprofits are starting to see the importance of inclusivity.

Leaders are releasing DEI statements, creating diversity goals and training, and working to create a culture where everyone feels belong.

Even in the current virtual world, you can still create a great impact that continues for years to come.

Tune in to learn more 🎬 watch the full episode of Learning For Good — 5 Things Nonprofit Leaders Can Do to Create Lasting DEI Change.

What You Will Discover: 

✔️ Build a strong foundation of trust. Why do you want to create change? What parameters exist? Be transparent. Honesty can cultivate an open and welcoming atmosphere among your staff.

✔️ Assess what’s working and what isn’t. This means engaging those around you about what an inclusive workplace looks like for them. Ask questions. Review data. Gather input. DEI change is a team effort.

✔️Co-create with people around you. What is a common vision for DEI in your organization? What are the goals that will help your organization achieve that vision? 

✔️ Identify and implement the tactics. Change can’t happen without an effective strategy. Now that you have a vision and goals, identify what you need to do to achieve those goals. 

✔️ Listen and adapt. The work never ends. As you plan and implement the tactics, ask what is working and what isn’t, review data points to see if change is occurring, and continue to listen to those around you. Make changes as needed so you can achieve your vision and goals. Stay in the mindset of consistent learning and growth. It’s never too late to do better. And every day is a chance for your organization to discover something new.

 Head over to my website and let's work together to help your staff and volunteers feel like they really belong. https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/dei

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms